How to Troubleshoot & Drive an Electric Scooter
Both children and adults enjoy driving electric scooters, mainly because of the ease of operating and maintaining them. Although you can usually only drive from 10 mph to about 25 mph, scooters can be a convenient way to travel when you have a destination of only a few miles. Troubleshooting your electric scooter helps you learn how your electric scooter operates and will save you time.
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Things You'll Need
- Tire pressure gauge
- Thorn-resistant plastic strips
- Thorn-resistant inner tubes
- Approved safety helmet
- Kneepads
- Elbow pads
- Athletic shoes
- Driver's permit or license, as required by your state
Instructions
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Slow-Running Motor
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Charge the battery pack for eight hours if you have not charged it in the past three months. Ensure you do not leave the charger plugged into your scooter for over 12 hours, since the battery pack can overcharge and become damaged.
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Inspect your scooter for melted wires or components, replacing them if you find any. Smell your electric scooter motor and replace it if your motor smells like burned plastic.
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Ride your electric scooter on flat ground with a fully charged battery pack and see how long your battery pack lasts. Ideally, your battery pack should last about 30 to 45 minutes on a full charge. Replace your battery pack if it lasts less than 30 minutes -- this represents a worn-out battery pack.
Frequent Flat Tires
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Inflate the tires on your electric scooter properly, up to the maximum recommended pressure rating for your tires. Keep your tires fully inflated at all times, according to the manufacturer's specifications.
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Fill the inner tube with air before you install it on your electric scooter. Without enough air, the tube will pinch between the rim and tire during installation, which can create a hole in the inner tube.
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Place thorn-resistant plastic strips between the inner tube and the tire of your electric scooter. For driving on rough terrain, buy thorn-resistant inner tubes for electric scooters.
Driving Your Scooter
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Drive your electric scooter only on flat, dry surfaces free of gravel, sand or rocks to avoid accidents. Stay away from puddles, ice and mud when riding. Never ride your electric scooter in wet weather, since water can damage the electrical parts of your scooter.
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Wear an approved safety helmet, such as the helmets meeting the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Wear kneepads, elbow pads and proper shoes while driving your scooter. Never ride your scooter wearing sandals or with bare feet.
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Check the laws in your state to learn where and how you can drive your electric scooter. In California, for example, you must be at least age 16 and must have a driver's permit or a class C driver's license to drive an electric scooter. You must also ride in a bicycle lane if the roads speed limit exceeds 25 mph or you can drive on road with posted speeds of 25 mph or under.
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References
Resources
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